GM employees still in shock over announcement

As I read the comments about the GM closing, I am shocked at the hatred directed at rank and file workers who work at "THE PLANT". Wherever GM is, people call it "THE PLANT", not just here. No one has spoken about the generosity of GM itself in the communities they have helped to build and, not knowing the history of Janesville, it sounds like they have helped to build Janesville since the early 1900's (also gleaned from the blogs). Each time the union workers, donate to a particular cause, GM matches that donation and has sometimes doubled their share. GM is far more generous than some people on these blogs. If the community thinks it will pull out of these economic hard times with the national economy being so bad, uncharitable remarks on these blogs indicate there is too much envy and vitriol for this community to come together. It is not the fault of General Motors or its employees that you have a low paying job; it is your fault for accepting the status quo. Where were you when GM struck for higher wages and benefits? Probably doing the same as you are doing now, instead of striking at your job or going to school to get an education. I have never seen a communtity who has not wanted to better itself but would rather live in the past like these GM haters indicate. So many have just sat by and accepted the low wage jobs and envy the guts and sacrifices of the GM people who have fought for what they should have, which is a decent living wage. In other areas of the country, a GM job is not considered to be the best job or the highest paying job. Secretaries and administrative assistants in other areas of the country make just as much as a GM employee. Other cities, outside of Janesville have progressed since industry has pulled out of their cities but it happened during good economic times. Janesville will experience a more difficult recovery process during these times because of the national economy and because of the mindset of some very small-minded people who cannot get past their anger and see the big picture. GM haters have to really take a good look at themselves, realize that their hatred serves no purpose except to help in the demise of a formerly healthy and productive community.

I am not a GM employee, just a resident and homeowner in Janesville who would rather see all this hatred utilized and harnessed to bring this city forward and to make it a place that will be abundant with good paying jobs for our children and their children.

I just want to say there are a lot of GM employees who have no business whining about what they are going to do after GM closes, I drove by the parking lot while running errands and saw every type of competitors vehicles in the parking lot-if they were proud of their product wouldn't they be driving it, and profits wouldn't be falling because of it? Just my opinion, I could be wrong.

The people that post their hate speech about GM workers are blue collar workers that were not lucky enough to get a job with GM and get paid crap at their current job. It is just jealousy that breeds their hate speech. Those of us with an college education and a white collar job don't have any hate towards the GM workers and wish them luck finding work in this global economy that doesn't cater to US based manufacturing. And for those fools that don't believe this will have an economic effect to the area, try selling your house in 2 years and see how much you get for it.

RUSerious...I wonder if slave meant to say their METAL pins with their clock numbers on them !! Oh I forgot GM hasn't used those sense the EARLY 70's.Just for the record they were blue and had no name or picture on them !!!

Slave: Funny-if you're talking about the regular GM rank and file worker-they do not have name badges-just a credit card like ID card used to swipe a time clock. How are they sporting it? Behind their ear?
In my work-where it IS my business to know who I'm dealing with-I see the opposite type of worker, and NO badges. Must be something to that...Maybe because I would never expect them to take the job-and then beg for less to do it.

ammfrm- I totally support you 100% I work with the public and yes I have noticed the rude, crude behavior some of the G.M. employees give out, like we should roll out the red carpet and I know this for a fact cuz most of them come through my job sporting there wonderful name badge...lol
I don't think anybody should be without a job but I think most of the employees at G.M. would not take on a job making $7.00 an hour (that would be beneath them...) I on the other hand do have 2 trades under my belt but don't do either for a living I love where I work and love the people I work with and wouldn't give it up for the world. The problem with most people in todays society is all they think of is MONEY and the more they make the fatter their head gets... Well to all you uppity snobs out there, money doesn't make the world go around (it helps but it doesn't...)
Love, respect, and positive surroundings we can teach our children, not how to be a fathead idiot.

RU- No these are not people I hang around with. The people that I hang around with happen to be aware that the people I am referring to work at GM or in some cases during the dinner overhear the neighboring conversations, so we hear that they are at GM. No they don't wear badges. Anyway, it does not explain the behavior of neighbors with the attitude that I have explained.
Again, I was not complaining and whining. I was just explaining how I could see the attitude expressed on these forums. I personally wish everyone at GM the best and hope that they can find jobs. Losing a job hurts anyone no matter what company it was with. I was expressing my empathy- since I have been where they are now, and it is not a pleasant situation to be in.

ammfrmm-I can’t help it, I’m sooo curious. These GM workers you see at restaurants who make waitresses run around like chickens with their heads cut off: do they wear their GM “badges” on their shirt expecting special privileges because they're from GM-or-just how do you identify GM workers in these public situations? You make it sound like it’s a pretty common experience. Or—are they people you are hanging out with? In that case-complain to your particular friends about their rudeness. You don’t HAVE to socialize with people that you don’t respect. Seems to me people see these rude GM people in situations where they normally would have no idea what their backgrounds are-so the people who complain must all be hanging out with bad crowds-not surprising considering their own way of speaking. You shouldn't complain on a public forum about YOUR personal friends-because you cannot "prove" all of a huge employee base act that way. It's just plain ludicrous. Now I’m waiting for someone to claim these rude people they see all call out “I’m from GM so you better treat me extra special.”
I also notice whenever someone like itsjustmeinjnv tells his/her moving story more indicative of the average human being-and the average GM worker-someone (actually several of you who can’t give them even passing acceptability) says “Quit complaining” or otherwise counters the possibility that even a minority of GM workers are as good as they are. Yes-everything most have said against GM workers actually reflects very poorly on YOU, the negative ninny. I don't see GM workers (or even the other affected workers with fewer lay-off benefits) complaining-I see YOU complaining because they won't suffer as much as you wish they would.

I have been watching and reading the comments about the GM situation and have mixed feelings. I did not grow up here in Janesville, but have lived here 16 years. Several have commented about where does the "hate" come from. While there may be MANY good workers at GM that don't deserve the bashing that seems to be taking place, from experience there are those at GM that have created this feeling. I have a relative that works at GM and does not fit the mold. I have other relatives that have neighbors that work at GM and any time I am there- they are the most rude people and have the "I'm better than you" attitude. I have also seen first hand at resteraunts how some GM employees treat others in this town. They make the waitress run like a chicken with their head cut off and then leave next to nothing for a tip. I've seen this first hand and wonder why that server deserved to be treated that way (and I've seen that more than once).
I really feel for those losing their jobs at GM and hope that they land on their feet. I too lost my job when Gillette came in and bought Parker Pen. I was devastated, but was provided the means to be able to find a better job- was it in Janesville- no, but I still live here and spend my money here. I also feel for those not at GM who also will be losing their jobs that will not necessarily see all the benefits that GM workers will see through this process.
So while I have many friends at GM, I can see how the attitude has evolved in this town and it is through the own doings of SOME employees that people happen to witness.
May God be with you in your time of need.

Aaaahhhh!!! thats what it is (only speaking for myself) I am very jealous...UUUMMMM

When I moved to Janesville 27 years ago I didn't know about GM right away. I was a single mom struggling to make ends meet. My car stalled at the 5 Point intersection and a man (GM employee) stopped. He took the time to help me out of the street and found the problem. He went and bought the thermostat, changed out the bad one and wouldn't take anymore than a thank you. (If you are still out there after all this time Thank You again.) He told me to go to GM, they were hiring. I didn't go right away, I didn't want to work in the factory. It was dirty, hard, and tedious work. I thought I was better than that at the time. Went to school got my degree and guess what? GM paid more than any place where I could use my newly earned degree. I decided I wasn't too good to work for GM anymore. At the time it was $10 an hour. Myself and thousands of others earned the money we made at THE PLANT. Now I can/could afford to buy my children nice things and buy a new car. I was thrilled. I hated the work most of the time but I stuck it out like lots of others like me.
Yes Janesville will survive...most of us that are to be laid will be ok. Most of us will move and lots of people in Janesville will say good riddance. We will sell our house at a huge loss. We will no longer pay property taxes. We won't buy any more new cars. We won't be here to buy gas or coffee at Kwik Trip. We won't be buying our breakfast sandwiches from the McDonalds that some people seem to think we need to work at.
As a single parent I eat out a lot and I tip well. I guess I won't be eatting out as much. I won't be going to the mall to buy overpriced Father's day presents or Christmas presents either.
I, as a GM employee, don't understand the animosity towards GM employees: what's the deal? Are people jealous of us? We were the ones who took the time to apply and got lucky enough to get the job. Now you will not have the opportunity to apply, let alone get the job. Not that everyone can handle that type of work anyway. Most are hard, back breaking jobs.
Most of us here spend a lot of money around this area. Most of Janesville will feel the ripple effect of us leaving or just being laid off.
GM corporation has made a decision to close down the Janesville plant. It's a shame. I have met a lot of wonderful people there and I will miss them. For those who 'hate' us because we got lucky enough to get a job at THE PLANT kiss my a** and grow up! While we are where-ever collecting our well earned 'fat' paychecks we will not be thinking of you but the poor people who will not be getting the help they need from United Way or Echo because their money ran out. The trickle effect.
Good luck to everyone who is affected by the corporate decision to mess up a good thing. Maybe after O'Bama becomes president we will be able to come back to Janesville to a newly revamped plant to build a new product. God Bless US ALL

Janesville caters to G.M. at least alot of people think so, without G.M. there will be no Janesville well my opinion is this "I have lived here in Janesville for 4 years and worked at the same company for 6 years and supporting a little girl on my own with medical, dental, vision, and ask for no help from the government NONE at all and sending my daughter to a catholic school, and I do it all on about $300. a week, my own rent, gas in my hoopty (beater mobile,) internet, cell phone, cable, and still put food on the table all on MY own so I know that anybody can do it... The only problem is that they are so used to making $500., $600. or $700. weekly and they wouldn't stand for anything less then that..."
The last strike that they had all I heard about was how the employees couldn't live on $200. a week they really needed to get back to work because it is downrite imposible to do, it is people like that that come in my job and talk to us like we owe the world to them (NOT)but they don't realize that they could be in the same boat and will be one day where thats all they make is $200. or $300. weekly and appreciate it... I would love to see some of the G.M. employees take on a job at Burger King, or Mc. McDonalds, or even Sentry,or Pick'n Save just try that life for a while cuz we're just as good as you are if not better.
This comment is not to offened anyone just realize that the world will go on with or without G.M.and remember if you want respect you have to work for it nothing is free not even for G.M....

When a culture reinforces through their speech, that envy of other’s success is acceptable behavior, it plants the seeds of their own demise. Then who is deserving of some success? No one.

My father always said he felt successful because of his four good kids. Feel successful if you are doing God's will for you in your life. Don't measure yourself up against someone else.

We should all encourage each other to succeed and be glad for one another's success. One day your success will come - and they will be glad for you.

Don't you think that being nice is the most productive act all of us can take? By tearing each other down, we bring us all to a lower level of overall success.

Why are some callous in toward their fellow human being who is suffering. Why are they kicking them while they are down, instead of supporting them in their time of need as we would do for any other company in this town? This is discrimination.

I have seen parents tear down their own kids so they "don't get all uppity and thinking they are better than their family". It's the same sad mentality, perhaps going from one generation to the next.

We should all just be grateful for what we've got, and not be upset when someone is blessed. My father always said - "if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all". I think it's a good goal for all of us.

Ralph: One of those who had died had been talked about here on the boards a few weeks back. Another more recently, although not on the boards. I'm not going to be the one to dredge this back up. I was only making the point that there are humans with families and friends just like anyone else here, involved in this, no matter the pay, and that such hurtful comments aren't needed anymore.
Their points (if that's what you could call them) have been made.

sewaelizebeth- Thanks for the post. Its nice to know some people do have hearts.

veedo...that was not directed at you. It was in regards to all the negative comments posted here. Read the opposite of "silent majority" ie: "ignorant minority."

My sister knew one man and heard of a man who committed suicide after they heard about the layoffs and cutting of a shift. These are real people and just because you didn't know about it doesn't mean it didn't happen. Now I'm sure some of these posters will say-oh, killing yourself over a job, how stupid. You obviously can't put yourselves in their situations. I worked at GM for six months. I got to know many people there and when I think back on their situations-I worry for them. These are real people. It's not just-oh, GM is closing, get over it. This is a major upset in people's lives and most will get by, but some won't. Just think if this was your situation and you looked in the paper and people just casually put you down and said how glad they were that your job is gone. I think this is my last post on the subject as I know the putdowns and nonchalance of the posters will continue. No sense can be talked into them. I can't make someone empathetic or sympathetic. I guess you have a heart or you don't. To everyone affected-good luck. I know most aren't going to read these posts because they have real issues to worry about but not everyone is down on you and good luck.

hey hahagm, i hope all your go green feeds you and your family, because your going to need it, as i see it your not to bright, if no one is working, then no one is spending, our economy is going to take a nose dive, then we will see who is laughing. see how much laughing all you gm haters will be doing when it effects your work place.

Re:JohnDoe "Ignorant minority."
What is "Ignorant" about the thought that they should bring the "ZETA" line here? The last I knew, they have only 2 plants running the new RWD(rear wheel drive) platform that runs a broad spectrum of product lines. The 2 plants are in Australia and Canada. The last I heard, those cars include, Pontiac G8 and Park Avenue(08),Camaro and Impala(09), Pontiac GTO(11), and eventually Cadillac CTS(est 13). These product lines run from fuel efficient hybrids to guzzling muscle. Ok, so retooling wil cost millions, but the infrastucture is there and the quality is top shelf. I also would imagine that the city/county/state would pitch in for such a retooling. As for "minority" probably.

I have read through all these post now. I Will comment to you that have not grown up here, or have not grown up with no link to GM. There is real bad blood, and it has been there for years I would hate to tell you I do not think it will change.

I have not read a story about anyone killing them self over a job. Where did you get that? I have closed a few employers down, and life goes on. The job I have right now could end a week from now? I do not think it will but in the real world anything can happen. I work to make a living, I do live to work. I do agree some people will have some real issues with future employment because they do not have big brother to back them up so they will need to toe the line?

Two words....."Ignorant minority."

One word, ZETA !!!

People are commiting suicide over the loss of the GM jobs and the jobs connected to GM. Killing themselves! Do you all get this? These people have families that they loved..children and mothers..fathers and friends. To those of you who leave the cruel comments toward these people - what if your's was the last thing they read before they took their own life? Stop and look around you before you post such rotten things. These are human beings.

was some good news to hear that gm is closing. janesville will be a better place cause of it. do u see all the polution that place puts off, go green. just dont know where they will get a job with no skills

This is a hard pill swallow. GM is in almost everyones life in Janesville. Thank you to all the GM employees who have given there lives for the company. Keep driving your Chevrolet they paid for our houses, Harleys and kids to go to school and food on our tables for many years.

As a child I was uprooted a couple of times. Because of that I have never made any close or lasting relationships. I see people now who have friends from first grade. I would love to have that. I don't work for GM but my sister does and I know it would be hard for her to uproot her kids and have them go through what we did. Our whole family lives in the area. My sister is looking into opportunities around here. Moving away isn't always the best option.

snarly..... i have been reading your posts and you should know that a lot of these people you are talking about, my husband included are good people not only that but when a lot of them took the risk of working for the auto industry, it was not in the state it is in now... i worked for gm for 15 years before they closed the plant that we both worked at and have transferred uprooting our kids chasing the pension as someone put it, who could blame us but put yourself in these peoples shoes for just a minute before you bash them any more, i have worked in offices in several industries since leaving gm and believe me, there are drunks and potheads anywhere you go but that doesn't mean there arent good people also who far out number the bad when people have put a large part of their life into building what gm wanted built and then they get close to retirement, why should they have to go elsewhere for a job, this is what they know and they are good at it!!!

pitterboy...... you are a disgrace!!!! shame on you supporting foreign auto companies and colleting a pension from gm. i would think if you put in 30 years or more, that you would want the company to survive so you can continue to collect that monthly paycheck!

to the workers that are there at "THE PLANT" and also the others that are at the supply "PLANTS", good luck to all of you, we left Janesville over a year ago because we were afraid of this, however nobody is safe, it can happen to anyone at any time moving may not seem like a good option but you adjust to a different area trust me we have done it several times

Yeah, it would be easier to take him serious if he knew how to spell.

Hmmmm... I smell pot and booze! Oh wait! It's coming from the post below this. Time for you to get the cheeto's.

dear staff you cant handle the truth about the drinking and smoking of pot on the line well sorry but it is true, now that the big news is out that the plant is closeing every one is all up in arms about it you could not read the signs that it was comming. I do feel for some of the people I do know and hope for the best but you take a chance when you work in the auto makeing feild. P.S. REST IN PEASE DOOL'S LOVE YA,BRO

piterboy-you are a disgrace to those of us who apprciate what we have. Like yo I am a transfer as well, one thing I do know, if people like you expect to keep getting a retirement check from GM you getter get you head out of your arse and quit buying a foreign vehicle. Do you think you are helping others who are still working and will fund your future pension checks. You ought to be glad you could transfer and "chase your pension", but better yet you ought to be glad you have one. People like you who retire from GM and buy a foreign vehicle make me sick. If the company was so terrible you should have leftand gone elsewhere. I am sure you enjoyed your paycheck all these years. Now it is time to screw the company. Guess what you screw the people that are still working as well as yourself. I have no time for people like you.

piterboy - glad you got to your pension, that is along way to go in a GM factory. I really don't see many people holding on to false hope this time. I had transferred before, but will not now because I am eligible for pension now and do not want to move. There are others who look to their life here with family and friends and they probably won't go, willing to find other work. So there are many reasons why people will "wait till the last job". Sometimes a pension is not the deciding factor, as quality of life and a buy-out package is best for them.(And GM normally offers buy-outs when it closes a plant - I do not see it not happening here). Yes, there are some who will be stuck in denial, but those are the ones that feel for as transferring & closings are the most mentally and emotionally draining things one can go through. And even with more education and training there are only limited amount of good jobs in the area right now. Many people wont even fathom the pain people go trough with stuff like this, being torn away form your life as you had known it for 10 to 20 years.

sorry chad_vader, if you misunderstood, I am not to be pitied, I collect a pension from gm, I am a retiree of janesville and I know exactly how hard it is to work with the management and union in the plant. the point, do whatever you have to do to get the pension. sometimes pulling up your bootstraps means TRANSFER to flint, lake orion or arlington. it is not that difficult to do.....in fact gm will do it for you.there will be those individuals who wait till the last suv rolls off the line and still "can't believe janesville is closing". pity them, not me...I got my pension.

lunaslobo, I don't think it is really that we are valued more as it is what the market dictates. That is America. You must realize that at the prime we were pumping out thousands of vehicles a day here. If you looked at it like piece work, we really don't make much individually on each truck. It was the sheer volume that allows auto companies to afford to pay those wages (GM's big boss just got a 15 mil bonus, guess where that comes from?).Is it fair? Unfortunately this world does not work that way, or we would not be losing a good workforce. My wife is a nurse in a nursing home and is way underpaid, but she loves her job and I thank God for people like that. I know people who do secretarial work that make more than me. But I don't complain about people who have it better than me, I look at them and say "Hey, maybe I could do that too!" I also give alot of my large unwarranted pay to charity, hope all the complainers on this site can make up the difference when i and others here can no longer help support those in need.

Lunaslobo-we should not, and I'm sure most do not, feel caregivers (for example-those in nursing homes) should receive these low-end wages. Why don't they make more pay-like that of a GM worker? Good question. I've always wondered that myself. I'm sure there is profit in the medical field in general. I've wondered if it wasn't because those past their "prime" are considered expendable, a waste of resources, of no value. I hope it never comes to that. If you find the answer, pass it on.

I really do feel for all of those that are losing thier jobs, no matter where you work and how much you make that is a scary thing. there is just one thing I have never understood about wages. Why do we value the people who make cars so much more than the people who take care of our families in nursing homes and hospitals? the average wage for someone working as a CNA starting is less than 10 dollors and hour. just does not seem fair.

piterboy should be called pittyboy. Sounds like he wants pitty for his rough life, boo hoo! Do you think no one at GM has not gone through tough times too? Plenty have transferred many times. Since you live outside Wisconsin, and own a foriegn car, it is no wonder you have a crappy attitude twords GM employees who work hard and helped make Janesville and Wisconsin a great place to live. I have always owned GM cars and will be first to say that the vehicles built in the 80's were not good quality. But they are building very high quality now that GM management saw that quality was better than quantity. We will pull up our bootstraps, you worry about pulling up your crying towel.

just exactly how much longer did these people think gm was going pamper them? other plants don't get a week of deer hunting off, other plants don't get 50 plus hours a week, if you have never transfered before???? you have no idea just how pampered you are here....it is beyond time for all of you to get the big fat chop and get in reality..... what do you mean they cant believe it....go to michigan or ohio and try to whine....they have been around the block and back over there.....welcome to what they call "chasing a pension" and individuals who stay 35-40 or more years...come on they are just plain washed up, bored, or frustrated to want to stay in there. I know I know, some won't retire because they owe the ex-spouse but I guess time is not on there side any longer!!! no job,,,time to pay up! and if you think janesville will take up to 2010 to close, think again, pull up your boot straps, it will happen so much sooner than then. been there.......had it happen many times over. I have been there...transfered over and over...but I got it and I wouldn't own a g.m car for nothing in the world,,discount or not...janesville discriminates its workers and pampers the whiners.....glad to own a foreign made vehicle, glad to live outside of wisconsin taxes. my advice, budget tight, get rid of your honkin suv vehicle and get the heck away from these taxes.

ebergstrom2-That is an absolutely GREAT idea!
After all, why do cars have to be built by these huge monopolies???
*
I say that a new hybrid could be built up from scratch avoiding any patent infringement, I don't believe it would be hard to do at all.
*
They could also have all in-house management too.

Ebergstrom, interesting concept, but universal health care would only create a further imbalance in Janesville's economy due to the tax hikes added to already astronomical property tax rates. For the people that want to hang on to their homes, it will be extra difficult because of the hit they will take in wages. Not to mention the fact that property values will most likely go down while the taxes stay the same or could even increase on the wake of a panic attempt to compensate for a future downfall. This doesn't even include the hikes in sales tax across the board that would inevitably be implemented.

Also, universal health care doesn't have the benefits of being able to see a doctor of choice or even getting proper care in a timely manner.

People need to remember that there are a lot of people that commute to Madison to work and live in Janesville. Those people spend their Madison-made money in Janesville. We have three people just in our family alone that commute to Madison for totally unrelated jobs. Although it is a tragedy that GM is closing and there will be hard times for many, Janesville will survive this crisis and come out strong. The city government needs to put on it's thinking cap and come up with new ways to enliven the town. AND don't go whining to the governor, the state has enough to do with the money it has.

sooooo...will there still be a parade for Labor Day and the wonderful drunk fest known as Laborfest?

It seems to me that GM did not take the state renovation money in good faith. Even if they did, the state should bill them for it, or ask for the plant. I don't see why we can't build a better, more energy efficient, car in a worker co-op. They have factory co-ops in Europe, particularly Spain, why not here?
Perhaps someone might also suggest to GM that they retool the plant and start producing the old Metro - the car that, had they stuck with it, would be a best seller today.
One final thought, if Wisconsin had universal health care that divorced the cost from companies, what effect would that have on the cost to do business here - for both large and small firms?

I echo Red's sentiments. I too worked on the line for 4 summers and sometimes during thanksgving break (double shifting) to pay for undergrad. Working on the line taught me many things-but the vast vast majority of workers were great and given the resoursefulness of people from the midwest, I suspect the majority will move on with their lives and they will be succesful.

There will be an economic impact to Janesville, no question. However, Parker Pen left a long time ago, and despite the business cycle the city of Janesville has actually grown. Never forget during times of trouble there will be opportunity and people will take advantage of it.

At least things are more calm here than in Oshawa.
http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/oshawa-...
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/st...

I have been with GM for 13 years. I am a single mom of two children. I work very hard to provide for my girls. I do not have a big house or a lavished life style. We our a very hard working workforce down at THE PLANT. Just like any other workforce around Janesville. The stereotype people have of us is getting really old. Most likely the people who put us down are the ones who put in applications and never got hired. We work hard for the money we earn just like anyone else. It will be a very sad day for many families when the doors finally close on a plant that has provided so much for many people and the community it surrounds.

Red: I agree

OK I'm gonna speak on a personal note. I thank God almighty that GM gave me 4 years of great summer employment. I bought and paid for a great university education in those 4 years. And I came to love and respect my mentors and fellow line employees. Hard working, salt of the earth people who worked their hinders off doing the very best they could for themselves and their families. We, as a nation had better express a little more appreciation for the hard working and express a little less concern for our career politicians who have sold our values down the toilet. As for me, I will stand with my hard working brothers and sisters who have given years of their lives working for an honest living. The real gem in Janesville's crown comes from those hard working people who have sacrificed every day for their loved ones and their children.

Lynda - if you took something I said as insensitive, then that is your problem, not mine. If you want to debate something I said, then by all means go for it.

Thankyou gm for not careing about your workers.Thankyour for not careing or suporting they community that suported the Plant all these years.To the city council the time has come for you people to keep your promise an bring new jobs to Janesville or this town will die.City council has 2 years to resolve this situation.we need jobs now not later.Or many residents will be forced to find work in other towns like me who was recently hired at Generac in Whitwater.Which runs me $30 a week to drive to work every day.

I have great sadness for the hard workers at GM and it is hard to imagine what the future for Janesville holds But GM doesnt own this town the hard working people do. Yes GM has been here for years as was Parker Pen and Gilmans and we are a strong community and we will survive. We can look at reality and see the GM workers are going to be given more then most when it comes to extended benifits and sub-pay I know when we slow down and get laid off we get unemployment with no state percs nor sub pay. And my wage is not near that of GM yes they have their toys and financial obligations but so does everybody else. No matter what happens the people will be okay and if they were heads up on the last few years at the plant they should have put a little nest egg away for the inevitable of this plant.

jjcwsimm: What a caring and thoughtful post. Your heritage is evident; your words are more indicative of the type of honorable and decent individual that I know make up the average rank and file employee at GM.

jjcwsimm - that says it all ...great post.

lkh789 - Yes you did say small number, and I guess i was just trying to respond to another "drunken GM employees" post while trying not to write a book here. It was more an overall reply to this line of thought that is always brought up even though it has nothing to do with the curren situation. You just happened to be the most current post bringing it up.
I had freinds who worked for ARA and lost their jobs, and felt bad for them. Also knew a few ARA people who were tipsy, but I would not mar the reputation of the rest by harping on the bad judgement of a few.

This is a very sad situation and will affect a lot of people here in Janesville. Some are just looking at GM but the small corporations that supply to GM in Janesville are also affected. I come from a long family line of GM Employees and I saw the hard work my Father himself put in down there for over 30 years, but the friendships he had made down there have lasted him a lifetime. People can sit back and say GM People think they own this town, when in reality they do. GM is a huge family and I have all the respect for the people that work and have worked down there. It is a hard job even though it looks easy on tv and it is menthally and physically draining work. I think those of us should thank the employees for all the hard work they have done to keep Janesville on the map. I am proud to be from the Oldest Gm town and every time I drive past the plant, I smile because there are so memories for me alone there. So for all of you employed there, my hat is off to you and your families and to my family members still working there!! You have done a wonderful job and my hat is off to you for all you have done. For all the past employees my dad supervised in the tooling department before he retired I have not heard one bad complaint about him and you all deserve a well pat on the back.

Red-the major reason the catepillar backed medical benefit plan went belly up is that it was underfunded to start. The fund was initially started at 20% of what was needed and the rate of return on their investments that was needed to keep it solvent never materialized. The GM fund will start out 75% funded, so the investment rate of return does not need to be near what the Catepillar was.

Common Sense:
Someone always has to play party politics and blame one side or the other. I'm tired of the blame game and your insensitive remarks are so tiring.

"Ultimately, GM workers who choose to remain on the payroll will keep their health insurance benefits and receive a minimum of 90 percent of their take home pay until 2011"

If anyone believes GM or any big corporation in the "GLOBAL" marketplace will keep retiree health and pension benefits intact in a "GLOBAL" marketplace they probably also believe in the tooth fairy, Easter Bunny and Santa Clause. I predict GM will file for bankruptcy allowing them to restructure and shed their pension responsibilities (like so many other big "GLOBAL" companies have done). The Caterpillar retiree health fund remained solvent for 7 whole years after it was transferred to the Union to manage it. The GM employees should talk to Caterpillar or Allis-Chalmers retirees if they want a realistic look at their future. I bet the UAW members who made all those concessions last fall thought they could trust GM to keep their Janesville plant open. Anyone want to place a bet on what property values will be in Rock county in about 4 years? How many tax liens? Will the City of Janesville be able to afford to plow the streets or will they make the Palmer Park wading pool a priority? And what about the thousands of workers amployed by places like Lear? The railroad workers and truckers and suppliers who will lose their jobs? Of course if GM were run by competent management they would not have allowed Honda and Toyota to take away market share. GM chose not to build small cars that people want. The plant closing is very sad on so many levels.

chad_vader---if you would read my post, I said it is a small number of people. I did not imply that everyone is a drunk. I just simply stated that there was more cola products leaving those coolers than normal and I was TOLD by a GM employee that they were being used to mix drinks. I do realize that some of those Colas were NOT being used for that purpose.
I apologize to those offended by my comments.

At any job I ever worked at someone would come in high or drunk. That's all I'm saying-yes, you're talking about GM but let's not make it sound like an huge problem that's happening only there.
If you're talking about a few people who work at GM-say it's a few. Don't say-oh, those people at GM...
As far as GM employees buying recreational vehicles or having weekend getaways: so what.
If I had the money to buy something nice that I want, I would. You might too. Why is that even an issue?
I'm off to work now. I hope I don't make so much that people look down on me. Or too little so people look down on me....Or I hope I'm not doing the wrong job....
Man, a girl just can't win.

lkh789 - again, with thousands of people at the plant, there are bound to be a few who drink. Thinking otherwise would be stupid. But to make it look like the other workers are drunks too is just an irresponsible statement. Not everyone who bought a Coke was putting booze in it. In fact Aramart probably only sees a small percentage of people who work there as most bring in their own meals.

Hey Snarly--you haven't had this post removed yet!!! Missed this one did they.

If you take the 3500 + population at the plant when Snurley talks about the drug bust, that is comparable to a small town. You can take ANY small town and have the same relative amount of bad people. In fact, it was probably less than 1 percent that were a problem at the plant. Thank god they don't lock up all the village idiots or we would have no one to bash us on this site.
tallman - I refer to the plant AS "the plant" because has been a big part of this city and referred to this way since before I was born. It is said with pride, not to belittle anyone. If one can't take pride in their job, whether you flip burgers or are a doctor at Mercy, then you would have to include yourself in the group of "bad" people everyone is pointing fingers at here.

What is wrong with some of you people? This is a tragedy no matter what way you look at it. I dont know how you sleep at night with all the hatred and jealousy in your hearts. I pray for you more than those losing their jobs to find an inner peace.

Go back and read again. I never once said that all GM workers were living the high life. There are really some wonderful people that work there. It's the ones that have gone out of their way to live beyond their means that are facing the most frustration now. That is no one's fault but their own. My comments are directed at those who didn't respect what they had and are whining about it now.

It is understandable that people don't want to leave what their whole life has revolved around, however, change isn't bad. It is simply change. Worse things could happen.

I do know something about it, being that I HAVE worked at the GM plant. My picture is painted from the real thing Baby. I listened to people on their breaks and on the line. I have heard their concerns about the potential of the plant closing and listened to them blame everything bad in the world on everyone but the correct source, and watched them drive away in a &50k vehicle to the bar. I know how it all goes down, and anyone arguing that point is only fooling themselves.

I also know what it is to be poor and to move away from everything that I know - that is how I came to live in Janesville, so please check your assumptions. It is my own hard work and faith in the good Lord to see me through that has brought me to a better position.

I'm sure there are a lot people that feel confident that things will work out just fine, and that is the positive attitude people need to have for this town to survive. Sometimes it just takes making some adjustments, such as a move or discarding the unneccessaries, and doing it with a sense of pride for the ability to make bold and responsible choices.

I worked for Aramark in one of the Marts at GM. I know for a fact that there is drinking going on during work hours. I can't tell you how many cola products were sold before the Christmas shutdowns.
I was told by an employee that they add to those bottles. I have smelled the marijuana on a few employees coming back from their lunch breaks.
I admit it is probably a small majority, but it does happen.
I no longer work there, I found a better job but I do have family members that do still work at GM and I wish them and the other workers the best of luck.

snarly, your right that the GM employees always referred to where they work when asked as "The Plant", as if it is "The Sun", "The Moon", "The Earth", and everyone should know what that is. Well, their buddy Mike Sheridan who they helped get a great second retirement job is not going to help them now just watch. So "The Plant" has just self distructed.

And by the way Snarly, my sister wasn't born working at GM. She had the low-paying jobs. And when she got one that paid better-she was thankful for it. I worked at the plant for six months and you can't smoke on the line. Some drink at break-but it's by no means the majority. Where did you come up with that picture of the GM worker? Is it something you heard and took as fact? That's sad.

Commonsensitive, it sounds like you've painted your own picture of the GM worker without a real model. My dad worked for GM for 30+ years. We never had 4 wheelers, motorcyles (or motercycles), Hummer's or weekend cottages. My sister who works there now doesn't have those things either. And who says GM workers don't give themselves credit for being able to do anything else. If I had a good-paying job that I didn't hate, I'd do it if it meant I'd be able to support my family. My sister doesn't want to relocate out of Janesville because HER WHOLE FAMILY LIVES HERE. Does that mean her life revolves around Janesville and GM-or her family values? You tell me. You know so much about it.

Hey Bill, it could be a rebirth for Janesville, the only thing is we are into or heading into a recession. Can the community hold on that long. I still remember Edgerton when Dana corp and Nunn-Busch shoes closed up. They never recovered.

The closing of GM is truly a huge blow to the community, but people also have to understand that the world is a lot bigger than Janesville, Wisconsin.

Janesville has become a commune of several generations toting the mindset of invincibility and lack of a sense of accountability, largly due to the influence of the UAW, and now that their false sense of security is ripped out from under them, they are panicking and whining about it.

I heard a GM employee last night cussing out George Bush for the closing of the plant. I could only laugh at his ignorance because it proven time and time again that it is the Democratic party that has created this problem by fighting every attempt that has been made for America to use its own resources to offset the energy crisis and high oil prices. The UAW was never looking out for their own. They were and continue to line the pockets of the people who took away jobs from Janesville.

As far as the city of Janseville is concerned, people need to give themselves a little more credit and less to General Motors for being able to sustain. It might be tough, and they might have to actually do without that leased Hummer, the 4 wheeler, the motercycle and the weekend cottage for awhile to make ends meet, or they might even have to sell their overpriced home and buy something that they can realistically afford. Maybe some of them might consider taking on the jobs that illegal immigrants are currently doing so they can quit complaining about THAT issue.

The universe does not revolve around General Motors, nor does it revolve around Jansevill, WI. Change happens. Build a bridge, get over it, and welcome to the reality of the average American lifestyle.

Janesville is blessed with good people, a wonderful location,and a rich history of entrepreneurs who made things happen.This tragedy of losing GM could be turned to a spectacular rebirth for Janesville and an example for the entire United States.Iscar, a Berkshire Hathaway company went to China last year and from their first request to build a new plant to delivering products took only 180 days! Site selection,obtaining all necessary permits,constructing a new building,installing all manufacturing equipment,hiring a new work force all of this could be done in Janesville. If Janesville made this fast tracking possible it would become a magnet for companies frustrated by the bureaucratic nightmares that are crippling businesses all over the United States. It would make my dreams come true to see Janesville show what she's got,to be the example,to demonstrate to the world,we can fix things,we can create great things right here in the United States,remove the red tape. We can make things happen.

Well, I heard the speech by the UAW Vice President saying that we have been run out by foreign competition. Expecting people to buy local built. Well, I wonder where he bought his clothes??? I worked at Farm & Fleet at one point and all the GM workers were fileing in to buy inexpensive auto supplies and parts. Where do they think those parts and clothes came from? All foreign made, and the store workers all making a third of GM employees. They have not stuck to buying at Auto dealership parts counters and American made. Welcome to the real world. It's simply an adjustment we all will have to get used to just like DANA workers years ago, Briggs & Straton and Pabts workers in Mileaukee etc. Everyone needs to stick together and fight to make changes.

Have you seen the after effects of what happens after a major employer has pulled out of a town? How can you not be afraid? My husband has wanted out of there for years. We started preparing for this a few months back,but thought we would have more time. He was gone for two years back in 2005 for military duty and came back to a completely different work atmosphere than when he left.
I just don't see us taking a transfer. Moving away from friends and family,uprooting our kids and then possibly getting into the same situation in another plant. I don't think so.
With his military career he has medical training, we will be o.k. My career will be greatly effected however,I'm a real estate agent that will now have to start specializing more in the market in Madison. You'll see that it will affect everyone some way.

Best Wishes to all